Effects of Fermented Soybean Dregs and Pleurotus ostreatus Residue on the Growth and Nutritional Components of Hermetia illucens Larvae

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding a mixture of fermented soybean dregs and Pleurotus ostreatus residue on the growth and nutritional components of Hermetia illucens larvaes.

Methods The P. ostreatus sticks were first dried and crushed, and then mixed with fermented soybean dregs at mass ratios of 4∶1 (T₁), 3∶2 (T₂), 1∶1 (T₃), 2∶3 (T₄), and 1∶4 (T₅) to feed H. illucens larvae. Pure fermented soybean dregs were used as the control (CK). The biological characteristics and nutrient contents of H. illucens larvae were measured.

Results There was no significant difference between the T₃ treatment and the CK in terms of the body length, individual larval weight, survival rate, feed conversion ratio, as well as the contents of ash, crude fat, crude protein, fatty acids, essential amino acids, non-essential amino acids, and mineral elements in H. illucens larvae. In the T₁, T₂, and T₄ treatments, the biological indicators (body length, body weight, and survival rate) and nutrient contents (crude protein and crude fat) of H. illucens larvae were significantly lower than those in the CK.

Conclusion Mixing fermented soybean dregs and P. ostreatus residue in a mass ratio of 1∶1 as feed for H. illucens did not significantly affect the growth and nutritional components of H. illucens larvae, and shows promise for application in large-scale production.